𝓢𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓗𝓮𝓪𝓵 || 𝗘𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗞𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗸 𝘅 𝗙!𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿

▸ Ch. 3: The Right Stuff ◂

A/n: I've been writing this for the past couple of days, wanted to have it ready for today. Happy Halloween! 🎃

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𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤
𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 '𝐞𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤
𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

- NKOTB, The Right Stuff

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     "Take everything but the Delicious Deals, guys," Eddie instructed. "My mom loves them."

     Richie was rifling through Eddie's kitchen cabinet, Bill and Richie had stopped by Eddie's house before their trip to the barrens. They figured they should grab some snacks beforehand.

     Eddie watches, leaning against the kitchen counter.

     "Hey! First, you said the Barrens, now you're saying the sewer." He said. "I mean, what if we get caught?"

     "We won't, Eds," Bill assured. "The sewers are p-p-public works. We're the public aren't we?"

     "Hey, Eddie?" Richie stood at the other end of the kitchen, a cabinet full of pills open. "these your birth control pills?"

     "Yeah, and I'm saving it for your sister. This is private stuff." Eddie retorted.

     The boys closed all the cabinets and exited the kitchen. The TV from the front room was playing softly, Mrs. Kaspbrak was seated in her living room, watching.

     "Hello, and welcome to the Derry Children's Hour."

     "Eddie Bear," the boys stopped, looking at Mrs. Kaspbrak. "where you boys off to in such a rush?"

     "Umm..." Bill spoke up, already feeling the effects of his stutter. "J-j-just my uh, backyard, Mrs. K. I g-got a new..."

     "A new croquet set," Richie jumped in. "Jeez, spit it out, Buh-Buh-Bill"

     "Okay," she eased, her eyes drilling into the boys. "Oh, and sweetie, don't go rolling around on the grass. Especially if it's just been cut. You know how bad you're allergies can get."

     "Yes, mom. Let's go." Eddie mumbled, and he began herding his friends out of the door.

     "Aren't you forgetting something?"

     Eddie froze, and his friends hesitated. Shamefully, he turned and walked into the living room towards his mother who held out her cheek. Eddie planted a quick kiss and returned to the front door. He could see Richie and Bill stifling laughter.

     "Do you want one from me too, Mrs. K?" Richie felt a harsh shove towards the door, and he chuckled. "I was kidding!"

     The boys, now joined by Stan, zipped through the streets of Derry, wind in their hair. As they barrelled through the town, the Derry Public Library cropped up into view.

     Inside, sat at one of the tables and thoughtfully scribbling on a postcard was Ben Hanscom. He had been mulling over the poem, trying to find the perfect words he could use that could possibly capture what he felt in his heart. Finally, when he had finished, he read the final draft in a hushed whisper.